The Archery (History of Archery Series)

By Louis William Maxson and Horace A. Ford

This vintage book contains a detailed guide to archery, with information on the British Long-Bow, exercises that can improve archery skills, the history of archery, tools, proper use of a bow, and much more. Profusely illustrated and full of fascinating information, "The Archery" will be of considerable utility to those with a practical interest in the sport, and it is not to be missed by collectors of allied literature. Contents include: "The History of Archery", "A Glance at the Career of the English Long-Bow", "What Exercise do your Boys and Girls Take?", "Archery, Past and Present", "The Tools and their Use", "The Bow", "The Arrow and the String", "The Target and Minor Tackle", "The Shooting Glove", "The Bracer", et cetera. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern edition complete with an introductory essay on History of Archery by Horace A. Ford.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Country Books
• Release date: Dec 9, 2016
• ISBN: 9781473346918

Book preview

THE HISTORY OF ARCHERY

A GLANCE AT THE CAREER OF THE ENGLISH LONG-BOW

by Horace A. Ford

The date of the first introduction of the long-bow into England is a matter of considerable uncertainty, and a cheval de bataille with all historians and authors who have attempted to determine it; but it is certain that it was not till after the battle of Hastings, and the subsequent conquest of Britain by the Normans, that it became he favourite and specially encouraged military weapon in the hands of its inhabitants. The preponderance of historical evidence goes to prove that, to the deadly effects produced by it in that battle, the invaders principally owed their victory—Harold himself and the best of his men falling victims to the clothyard shaft. Thus the long-bow proved the prime agent in subjugating this country, substituting the Norman for the Saxon rule, and, by the intermixture of the two people, ultimately in completing that far-famed Anglo-Saxon race, the popularly supposed powers of which to accomplish everything everywhere it behoveth not one of themselves further to dilate upon. From this time, then, we may conclude, commenced in England that general, and all but universal, cultivation of the bow, which was ultimately to lead to such marvellous and astounding results, and to render the very name of the, English bowman an object of terror and dread in the minds of his enemies. Archers we find employed on both sides in the civil contests between Stephen and Matilda, and during the reign of Henry II. they began to form the larger portion of the infantry of the English armies, and to evince that decided superiority over those of every other nation which they ever afterwards retained.

In this reign, too, first appeared upon the scene that prince of good fellows (as times went) and gentlest of robbers and outlaws, bold Robin Hood!—that hero of impossible shots, the twang of whose bow, with that of his jolly companions everyone, could, according to Drayton, be heard a mile off! Credat Judaeus! However this may be, if there be truth at all in history and legend, he and his merry men were incomparable Archers, for strength and skill never surpassed, if ever equalled; and we may well suppose Archery to have been brought to the highest pitch of perfection in the times that produced such eminent exemplifiers of the Art. Robin flourished much longer than is usual with such bold spirits, even in the olden time; for we find him still in his glory through the reign of Richard I, John, and a considerable portion of that of his successor, Henry III.

It would be impossible, without entering into a mass of details whose length would be unsuited to the nature of these pages, to mention a tithe of the extraordinary feats performed and victories gained by the English during the next three or four centuries, owing entirely to their superiority in the use